Love’s Obsession: The Lives and Archaeology of Jim and Eve Stewart

Love's Obsession is the story of a brilliant yet flawed individual, a man with a passionate devotion to the island of Cyprus and its archaeology. Damaged by his time as a German prisoner of war and obsessed by the need to own the past, Jim Stewart was the first person to teach archaeology at an Australian university. Although archaeology was moving from the private pastime of wealthy men to a professional academic pursuit, Stewart was never able to completely make this transition. The story is also that of his wife, Eve. Devoted to his memory and herself trained as an archaeologist, she worked for nearly fifty years after his death — living alone in a dilapidated house in a village on the edge of the Blue Mountains — to complete her husband's work and ensure his legacy. Based on never-before seen personal papers, Love's Obsession is a fine addition to the story of archaeology in Australia, and a vivid portrayal of love and devotion, of obsession and determination.